Abstract

Time-gated, monoenergetic-proton radiography provides unique measurements of the electric and magnetic fields produced in laser-foil interactions and during the implosion of inertial-confinement-fusion capsules. These experiments resulted in the first observations of several new and important features: (1) observations of the generation, decay dynamics, and instabilities of megagauss fields in laser-driven planar plastic foils, (2) the observation of radial fields inside an imploding capsule, which are initially directed inward, reverse direction during deceleration, and are likely related to the evolution of the electron pressure gradient, and (3) the observation of many radial filaments with complex electromagnetic field striations in the expanding coronal plasmas surrounding the capsule. The physics behind and implications of such observed fields are discussed.

Received 04 December 2008Accepted 11 February 2009Published online 24 March 2009

Acknowledgments:

The work was performed at the LLE National Laser User’s Facility (NLUF) and was supported in part by U.S. DOE (Grant Nos. DE-FG52-07NA28059 and DE-FG52-06N826203), LLNL (Grant No. B543881), LLE (Grant No. 414090-G), the Fusion Science Center at University of Rochester (Grant No. 412761-G), and GA (Grant No. DE-AC52-06NA27279).